Massachusetts proposal creating permanent Muslim commission under fire for preferential treatment
Critics across the political spectrum say the proposed government commission would improperly favor one religion over others.
A proposed Massachusetts measure to establish a taxpayer-supported government commission focused on American Muslims is facing criticism from opponents who say it would grant privileges on the basis of religion.
S.B. 2134 and its House companion, H.B. 3351, titled “An Act promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the Commonwealth,” would create an 11-member “Commission on the Status of People Who Practice Islam.” Democratic state Sen. Jamie Eldridge introduced the Senate bill, while Democratic state Rep. Vanna Howard introduced the House version.
The legislation received a favorable committee report but did not reach the Senate floor before Massachusetts lawmakers concluded their 2025-2026 formal legislative session July 31, according to a joint Aug. 6 statement from Eldridge and Howard. The lawmakers said they are considering redrafting and refiling the proposal next session in response to concerns raised about it.
The panel would serve as a state resource on issues affecting Muslim communities, assess state programs, advise executive and legislative bodies, track and recommend policies to combat “Islamophobia,” and act as a liaison between the government and Muslim organizations. It would also be authorized to “identify and recommend qualified American Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions,” according to the bill’s text.
Eldridge and Howard described the proposal as an advisory measure intended to study discrimination against Muslims and ensure their perspectives are considered in government decisions. They also compared it to existing Massachusetts commissions addressing antisemitism and issues affecting other demographic groups.
Dexter Van Zile, managing editor of Focus on Western Islamism, told CBN News that the bill would violate both the U.S. Constitution and the Massachusetts Constitution by allowing the government to favor one religion.
“As soon as I saw this legislation, and as soon as a whole bunch of other commentators saw this legislation, we knew immediately that this was essentially a violation of the Establishment Clause,” Van Zile told the outlet.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLU), a civil liberties organization that frequently aligns with progressive causes, also opposed the bill. In a July 29 statement, the group described government neutrality toward religion as a “core principle of the Massachusetts constitution.”
“State and local agencies must treat people of all faiths, and no faith, equally, not elevating one over another,” ACLU of Massachusetts said, adding that the principle that the “government cannot favor one religion over others” is “foundational to a pluralistic society where people of all faiths and no faith can flourish.”
